Agenus’ INCAGN1876 in Phase I/II Study for Solid Tumors

Lexington, MA-based immuno-oncology company Agenus Inc.AGEN announced that it has dosed the first patient in a phase I/II study on INCAGN1949 for the treatment of patients with solid tumors.

The open-label, dose-escalation part of the study will evaluate the safety and tolerability of INCAGN1949 in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors. This part will also determine the pharmacologically active and/or maximum tolerated dose.

On the other hand, part II of the study will evaluate the recommended dose of INCAGN1949 in multiple tumor types.

Note that INCAGN1949, an anti-OX40 agonist antibody, is being developed in collaboration with Incyte Corporation INCY. The companies entered into a global alliance in Jan 2015 to discover, develop and commercialize immuno-therapeutics using Agenus’ antibody platforms.

Under the collaboration with Incyte, Agenus is also evaluating an anti-GITR checkpoint antibody – INCAGN1876 – in a phase I/II study for the treatment of solid tumors. In addition, the companies are studying an anti-CTLA-4 antibody – AGEN1884 – in a phase I study for solid tumors.

Meanwhile, Agenus plans to initiate a phase I study on its second anti-CTLA-4 antibody, AGEN2041 in 2017. Moreover, the company’s PD-1 antagonist, AGEN2034, is expected to enter the clinic in the first quarter of 2017. Also, Agenus expects to begin combination studies on AGEN2034 and AGEN1884 for the treatment of second-line tumors in the second half of 2017.

Cambrex’s earnings estimates increased from $2.46 to $2.55 for 2016 and from $2.91 to $3.06 for 2017 over the last 60 days. The company posted a positive earnings surprise in three of the four trailing quarters with an average beat of 19.78%.

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